To receive daily emails from Breaking Christian News to your inbox CLICK HERE


SHARE THIS ARTICLE Printer friendly version of this page

Giants Pitcher Brian Wilson's "Quirkiness" is His Christian Witness

Teresa Neumann-Commentary : Nov 5, 2010  Jason Turbow - The New York Times

Brian Wilson is reaching more people by simply being himself—in a career God has placed him—than I may ever dream of reaching in an entire lifetime.

(San Francisco, Ca.)—It appears some people's Christian witness, or testimony, can consist of little more than just being themselves, especially if it involves a personality that can only be described as "quirky." Case in point? Brian Wilson of the 2010 World Champion San Francisco Giants.

Fear the Beard bannerWilson has back-packed through Ireland and India and on a radio show last summer claimed to be a "certified ninja and a mental assassin." (Photo: NYTimes)

A recent report in The New York Times read: "Relief pitchers have tended to be odd, with closers typically occupying the far end of that spectrum. Brian Wilson, the San Francisco Giants' closer, is one of the oddest. Start with the easy stuff, like his physical appearance. There's the hair, part mohawk and part mullet; the tattoos; and the perpetually unbuttoned jersey ... And there is his preternaturally black beard—dyed several shades darker than the rest of his hair with what appears to be industrial-grade shoe polish."

Bill Neukom, the Giants' managing general partner and chief executive, said of Wilson, "He has an outsized personality, but he never brags about himself."

According to the NYT report, Wilson "has created some controversy with the cross-armed salute he offers up at the rear of the mound after every save. The gesture has been taken by some opposing players as a sign of disrespect."

Brian WilsonBut in July of 2008, in an interview with Andrew Baggarly of The Mercury News, Wilson said: "One of the main things I do after a game is the crossing of the arms. When I cross my arms, I have my left hand in the fist and my right hand goes underneath pointing with my (index) finger. What I've taken into my own belief is that this finger represents one man. I'm that one person. And I can only go so far in life leaning on my own understandings and my own strength. The fist represents the power of the Holy Trinity: the Father, Son and Holy Ghost. The fist is symbolic of a circle. It's never-ending. This strength will only continue to grow. So here's the strength of God and the strength of man. And without Him, I am nothing. I can only go so far in this life. But when I cross, I now have this one person with the strength of Christ, and I can do anything through Christ who strengthens me. I can get over any battles in life. (Photo: The Bleacher Report)

"So I basically give respect to the ultimate fighting world and I also give respect to Christ, the audience of one that I play for. I don't play for anything else. I play to impress Him and only Him, and I must honor Him through defeat and also successes, because I wouldn't be here today if it weren't for the strength that He gives me. Talent only goes so far."

Asked why he chooses to make the gesture at the end of the game, he replied, "It's not for showboating. What more perfect time to display my faith than at the end of a game?"

Researching Brian Wilson's biography has reminded me, yet again, of the dangers of "judging a book by its cover." Hopefully, the next time I see someone who looks, or behaves, outside of the proverbial "box" I'll have the heart of the Lord, instead of a heart of surprise that they could be a Christian. After all, Brian Wilson is reaching more people by simply being himself—in a career God has placed him—than I may ever dream of reaching in an entire lifetime.







SHARE THIS ARTICLE Printer friendly version of this page

To receive daily emails from Breaking Christian News to your inbox CLICK HERE

Other Recent Articles from Breaking Christian News

Tens of Thousands Attend Jerusalem Annual Passover Priestly Blessing, Focus on Hostages, Families

Oregon Taps Out of Drug Decriminalization: Three Years after Voting to Make Drug Use Legal, the State Has Reversed Course

Pro-Life Democrat Runs 'Graphic' Abortion Ad during the 'Today' Show

Outrage Follows Biden's Abortion Blessing at a Recent Rally

Alberta Official Reveals 'Almost All' Wildfires in Province This Year Have Been Started by Humans, Not Climate Change

Biden's EPA Rolls Out Regulations Aimed at Killing the American Coal Industry

New York City Union Workers Backing Trump 3 to 1 Over Biden; Chant 'We Love Trump' during Impromptu Visit

8 GOP States (and Counting) Ban Biden's DOJ from 'Intimidating' Voters at 2024 Polls

Poll: A Majority of Americans Support Mass Deportation for Illegals, and Nearly Half of Latinos Agree

West Virginia Student Helps Pass Bill to Teach Intelligent Design: 'This Is a God-Fearing State'

Free Speech Resolution Allows Satanic Temple 'Invocation' Sparking Chaos at a Michigan Board Meeting

Paris Olympics Will Feature a 'Pride House' to 'Celebrate' Homosexual and Gender-Confused Athletes

Video Captures Drag Queen Indoctrinating Kids, Getting Them to Chant... 'Free Palestine'

Who's Funding the Anti-Israel, Pro-Palestine Protests?

More Lawfare: Former Arizona GOP Chair Kelli Ward, Rudy Giuliani, Mark Meadows Indicted for Role in Alternate Electors Case

DEVELOPING: Harvey Weinstein Rape Conviction Overturned By New York Appellate Court

Supreme Court Puts Final Nail in Coffin of Effort to Block Trump from Ballot in Arizona

SCOTUS Begins Hearing Arguments on Presidential Immunity: Is This the Most Important Day for Donald Trump?

Courageous: Worship Leader Sean Feucht Prepares to Confront Anti-Israel Evil, Darkness, and Horror

'Australian Censorship Commissar' Orders X to Globally Remove Video of Islamic Terror Attack on Christian Bishop



Search the Articles Archives

Keyword:  
Author:  
Words Posted On:  
Day Month Year



BCN Plus

Follow BCN on Twitter
Are You Praying for Our Government Leaders?
BCN Staff

Steve Shultz
Steve Shultz, Managing Editor
Founder and Owner


Aimee Herd
Aimee Herd, Editor


BCN Plus
Are You Praying for President Trump?
 
 

All articles on this site and emails from BCN are copyrighted property of Breaking Christian News. Permission is given to link to, or share a BCN story if proper attribution is given to both the original writer and summarizer of the story. Breaking Christian News 2005-2019. All Rights Reserved.


Breaking Christian News is a division of Elijah List Publications, Inc. All Rights Reserved


Disclaimer: Articles and links, as well as the source articles linked to; do not necessarily reflect the opinion of Breaking Christian News.

editor@breakingchristiannews.com